Kerala nurses strike: Pinarayi to hold talks on Thursday

By Express News Service |
Published: 17th July 2017 08:03 AM |

Last Updated: 17th July 2017 11:07 AM | A+A A- |

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One of the protesting nurses at the venue of the agitation | Express

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With nurses unions and hospital managements adamant in their stand on wage revision, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has convened a meeting on Thursday to discuss the issue. The Chief Minister will hold a discussion with representatives of nurses unions and hospital managements to settle the issues, including wage revision.

The United Nurses Association (UNA) has postponed their strike after the Chief Minister’s office said it was ready to hold talks. However, the Indian Nurses Association has decided to go ahead with the strike.
Stating that they have got an invitation from the Chief Minister’s office for talks on Thursday, UNA president Jasmin Shah said the strike has been postponed till that time. “We would demand the implementation of the recommendations of the Supreme Court Appointed Committee and to fix the minimum wages at Rs 20,000,” he said.

Asked about the future plans if a consensus was not reached in the discussion, he said “We are on an agitation for the past 19 days. We cannot go back from this demand,” he said. A decision on the future course of action will be taken after the talks. “We will be forced to intensify the agitation if our demands are not met. Though the High court has barred us from resorting to strikes, we will have no other option if the talks fail,” he said.

Meanwhile, INA general secretary Mohammed Shihab said the protest in front of the Secretariat, and the indefinite strike in Kannur and Kasargod districts will continue. “In the wake of the Chief Minister’s invitation for talks, we have decided call off the strike in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam district,” he said.